A fair recovery plan is needed

In preparation for the European Council meeting on June 19, at today’s plenary session, the European Parliament discussed the European Commission’s new proposal for the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF) and recovery package. Fidesz-KDNP MEPs to the European Parliament want a fair EU relaunch package; it is morally unacceptable that richer countries receive more money than poorer ones.

In his written statement, József Szájer, president of the Fidesz-KDNP Delegation emphasized that “Hungary wants a fair fund allocation system. The final decision must implement the aim of the Treaty, which is that EU funding must serve cohesion and the catching up of poorer Member States. It is unfair for the poor and disciplined Member States to fund the rich and undisciplined ones. Hungary has once and for all learned from its own experience that we must not indebt ourselves to the detriment of future generations.”

MEP Enikő Győri, member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), pointed out that “Hungary was better prepared for the crisis than most of the Member States. In recent years, we have achieved outstanding economic performance thanks to the actions of the governments led by the Fidesz-KDNP coalition. The unemployment rate of around 11% in 2010 was reduced to 3.4% by 2019, employment has been growing steadily with economic growth above the EU average of around 5%. We are also at the forefront of crisis management when compared to other EU Member States: the Hungarian healthcare system has performed outstandingly, and the government’s well-timed economic measures are aimed at preserving jobs. The Member States that have dealt with the crisis effectively must not be treated unfavorably in the allocation of resources. Both the multiannual financial framework and the allocation criteria for the recovery fund must be fair.”

MEP Tamás Deutsch, member of the Committees on Regional Development (REGI) and Budgets (BUDG) said that “it would be important that the new recovery package does not come at the expense of the common agricultural policy and cohesion policy nor diverts additional agricultural and catching-up resources that are important for Hungary. At the same time, the current proposals do not substantially change the 2021-2027 budget proposal of  February, which also contributes to long-term economic recovery. Thus, it would still mean an unfair distribution of money. Our country supports a fair solution.”